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The Bicycle Association of Great Britain is internationally recognised as the lead body for the UK bicycle industry. Membership is open to all UK-based manufacturers and importers of bicycles, components and accessories, and other companies with a significant commercial interest.
History
The origins of the Bicycle Association date back to 1890 when 'The Cycle and Motorcycle Trades Association' was established in Coventry . In 1910, the Company's name was changed to 'The Cycle and Motorcycle Manufacturers and Traders Union Ltd'. Membership included all the principal British manufacturers of two and three-wheeled vehicles (bicycles, mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, sidecars and three-wheelers) as well as manufacturers of components, accessories and specialist clothing, and the UK concessionaires for imported products in those fields. Further name changes occurred in 1920, when the Company became 'The British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers and Traders Union Ltd', and again in 1956 when it became 'The British Cycle and Motor Cycle Industries Association Ltd'.
In July 1973, because of the diverging needs of the Bicycle Industry and the Motor Cycle Industry, the Cycle and Motor Cycle Association was split into two separate, autonomous bodies.
| Bicycle Association Council Officers |
President
Philip Taylor |
Philip Taylor
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Philip Taylor is the third generation of his family to be involved in the bicycle industry. His grandfather started a bicycle factory, Comrade Cycles, between the two world wars that was continued by his father and subsequently became the second largest producer of bicycles in the UK.
After selling the bicycle business Philip and his brother John, who is also a past President of the Association, eventually started a bicycle parts business, which they sold to Ralf Bohle GmbH in 1995. Philip is managing director of Bohle UK Limited, distributors of Schwalbe tyres fotr the UK and Ireland. |
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Vice President
Mark Bickerton |
Mark Bickerton
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From 1980 to 1991 Mark was a director (latterly MD) of Bickerton Rowlinson Ltd who made the Bickerton Portable Bicycle. Whilst running Bickerton Bikes, he also imported some very early Dahon folding bikes under Bickerton branding and some of the first mountain bikes. In 1991 Bickerton ceased production and the company became involved in the recruitment industry, so after a period of consultancy work Mark formed Fusion Cycles Ltd selling Fusion, Klein, Dahon and Voodoo bikes. In 1996 Fusion Cycles was taken over by the MCL and Amethyst Groups (UK distributor of Mazda and Kia Cars) when the business was re-named Cyclemotion Ltd. By the end 2005, MCL group had moved away from import and distribution to specialise in third party warehousing and logistics, and at the same time Mark took Cyclemotion out of MCL Group. Working directly with Dahon as their UK agent and OE representative, Cyclemotion haw worked with many partners including Zyro, Fisher, Madison, Raleigh, Dawes, Saracen, LandRover, Hotwheels, SeaSure, Unipart, Halfords, Action Bikes, Edinburgh Cycle Co-op. Mark has been attending meetings of the Bicycle Association for over 25 years and was a BA Council member between 2000-2005 and from 2007 to date. |
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Deputy President
Phillip Darnton |
Phillip Darnton
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Phillip spent 30 years with Unilever plc in senior marketing, general management and global strategy roles. Joined the Board of Reckitt and Colman as Director for Global Marketing in 1996. Between 2000 and 2003 he was the Managing Director and Chairman of Raleigh UK. Phillip joined the National Cycling Strategy Board in 2001; this Board advised the Minister for Transport on policies and actions to increase trips by bike in the UK. In June 2004 he was appointed Chairman of the NCSB. Since 2005 he has chaired Cycling England, a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Transport. |
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Secretary
Patricia Morris |
Patricia Morris
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